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Camping can be a great deal of work, but once you have the right equipment, and everyone has there job, camp can get set up in a short period of time. We have put our tents up so many times that they go from the back of the truck to sleep ready in less than five minutes. We have a folding table that gets set up as our camp kitchen. The camp stove as well as the portable charcoal grill is set up on the table along with the tubs for washing dishes. We used to have grates that we would put over the wood fire to cook burgers and steaks, but we found that the heat of the fire was too unpredictable to be a reliable cooking method. We use the portable charcoal grill just as we use the grill at home to prepare meats and vegetables.
Each member of the family has their job to do when we get to the campsite. My husband and our oldest son find the most level spots for the tents and set them up. My husband then usually lights the portable charcoal grill so that the coals will be ready for cooking by the time we have the rest of the camp set up. In the mean time our younger son and I are setting up the camp kitchen and organizing coolers and groceries so that they are accessible to us, but not the raccoons and bears that share the same camp grounds. We try to find more rustic camp sites so they are more secluded. Our favorite time to camp is in the early spring and later fall, because there are fewer insects to deal with and also less people. Once the portable charcoal grill is hot we cook meat and vegetables while we set the table. I have found that the more prep work I do at home the better. I will have chunks of potatoes that I partially cook in the microwave at home, wrapped in foil with onions, peppers and carrots. This package goes on the portable charcoal grill next to the burgers and within twenty minutes we are ready for dinner. I also make large bowls of marinated salad that can be eaten throughout the weekend. Once dinner is eaten and the camp cleaned up we build a fire and take walks. It is a nice quiet way to catch up with each other and to enjoy nature.
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